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June 29, 2008
It will never end
as long as we do things like this:
Israel's Cabinet voted 22-3 to OK the deal to return the bodies of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, captured by Hezbollah in a July 2006 cross-border raid that sparked a vicious monthlong war.
Before a six-hour Cabinet debate, Olmert announced for the first time that the soldiers were dead. He nevertheless pushed for the deal to be approved, citing the country's deep moral commitment to its dead and captive soldiers.
Commitment? Commitment? I read those words and I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. Samir Kuntar should be dead, as dead as the innocent people he killed and there can be no justification for releasing that animal to kill again. The Israeli Government rewards kidnappers by releasing prisoners and the international community (including the United States of America) rewards his kidnappers by giving them cash money to fund more terrorist attacks. No wonder they keep kidnapping soldiers, they get a big return.
I suppose I should be grateful that at least this time we get something in return, but I'm not. I'm just sick and tired of appeasing terror. I will never understand why the War on Terror stops at the border of Israel and terrorists suddenly become partners in peace, and politicians.
Like many, I have believed that Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were killed when they were captured, or immediately thereafter. Back in July of 2007, it was reported that at least one of them were dead, and it was denied by Nasrallah. No one cared then, and no one will care now. I look at the remains of their humvee, and I wonder how much they suffered:
Were they alive when captured, were they injured? And if so, who treated their injuries, what medicines were they given by the animals who took them? I look at that humvee, and I believe that they were injured, and I know that they were likely just bandaged up and left to live or die on their own. That's murder and no one seems to care, as no one cared when we suffered through reports that Gilad Shalit was gravely injured and in need of medical attention.
Amazing how the world continued to pressure Israel to make concessions to these terrorists even as it turned its back on Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser, and Eldad Regev, indifferent as to whether they lived or died, or how they were killed.
The "war" that immediately followed should not have ended unless and until they were returned, dead or alive. Now, two years later, we release a monster to obtain their bodies in what can only be called a victory for the terrorists. Israel should have fought until Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were released or until every single square inch of Lebanon and Gaza was buried under rubble. Hezbollah, Hamas, and Fatah should have been destroyed, completely destroyed, along with every single one of their supporters. The world would be a better place. Instead, Israel gave up and accomplished nothing.
Olmert is not compelled by any moral commitment, he has done this deal for political gain.
Their lives mattered only to those who love them. To the terrorists, and to the country they served, they were pawns, bargaining chips. And to the rest of the world, their lives mean nothing.
I hoped and I prayed for them, even as their names and their faces had already faded from the news, as the world forgot they ever existed, as they have forgotten other Israeli soldiers who have disappeared into the hands of terrorists, never to be seen or heard from again:
Three soldiers, captured by terrorists during a battle with Syrian and Palestinian forces near the Lebanese village of Sultan Yaqub. June 11, 1982. Twenty-six years ago, over 9,000 days.
Two soldiers captured with them were released in prisoner exchanges with Syria and Achmed Jibril's PFLP-GC (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command). Every once in a while, their names come up (including the 1988 Amnesty International Report and the 1993 Amnesty International December Update) but reports are conflicting and nothing is verifiable. Zachary Baumel is an American citizen.
Israeli air-force navigator Ron Arad was taken captive after his F-4 Phantom warplane went down over Lebanon. October 16, 1982. Twenty-five years ago, almost 9,000 days.
Ron Arad was taken captive by Amal, a Lebanese Shi’ite militia group lead by Nabih Berri, who today is the speaker of the Lebanese Parliament. In 1987, Arad’s family received several letters and a photo of Arad confirming that the missing navigator was alive and in Amal’s hands. Mustafa Dirani, the Amal security chief who allegedly captured Ron Arad when his plane crashed in Lebanon, reportedly broke away from the terrorist group in 1987, taking Arad with him. It is believed that Dirani then "sold" Arad to either Hizbullah or Iranian elements.
According to Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot, as recently as 2003, three former Iranian diplomats and intelligence officials living in Europe claimed that Ron Arad is alive and being held in a prison near Tehran. But these reports cannot be verified.
Twenty years later, we know nothing about the fate of Ron Arad, although I have my own thoughts on that.
Guy Hever, a soldier in the Israeli Army who was reportedly last seen standing at the Katzabiya junction, just a kilometer away from the Syrian border. He disappeared, and has not been heard of since. August 17, 1997. Almost eleven years ago, over 4,000 days.
Does Olmert, or anyone else, feel a deep moral commitment to these men? Does anyone even remember who they are? Sadly, no, most people don't remember them, if they ever knew about them in the first place. Disappearing Jews don't make headlines.
We'll be hearing from Samir Kuntar again, and when we do, it will likely be because he killed again. That's what they do. Israel lets them go, and they kill again.
There should be the death penalty for terror attacks and attempts at terror attacks, but in Israel, they only give the death penalty to a convicted nazi. Stupid, considering how many terrorists with blood on their hands are in Israeli prisons.
I've said this before, I've said all of this before and I'll say it again. My solution would be to take the list of prisoners the palestinians want released, and I would execute one a day, until all our men are returned, or I run out of prisoners. That way, the end result is a good one, either way.
Anything less is nothing but appeasement.
Posted by LindaSoG at 08:39 PM | Comments (30)
June 27, 2008
About that ceasefire...
The Gaza truce was broken yet again on Friday morning as terrorists fired two mortar shells at southern Israel.
One of the shells landed near Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in the Sha'ar Hanegev region, while the other hit an open area. No one was wounded and no damage was reported.
On Thursday afternoon, a Kassam rocket fired from Gaza hit the Sderot industrial zone, exploding near a gas station. No casualties or damage to property were reported in the attack, for which Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility.
Al-Aksa, that's just another name for Fatah. And Fatah? Well, that's the party of Israel's Partner-in-Peace, Mahmoud Abbas, heir to the terror reign of Yasser Arafat (may he rot in hell). Why would they do such a thing?
Fatah’s military wing, the Al-Aqsa brigades claimed responsibility for launching a projectile at the Israeli town of Sderot on Thursday afternoon, calling for the truce to include the West Bank.
Hmph. They broke the truce to expand the truce. Brilliant! They later denied that statement, but hey, that's just the kind of logic that appeals to Olmert... what do ya wanna bet he goes for it?
Posted by LindaSoG at 06:59 AM | Comments (2)
For the really really racist stuff
You really gotta go far left...
I found that linked at bloggie, its from a rather ridiculous leftist blog that appears to be dedicated to ridiculing Condi Rice.
Posted by LindaSoG at 12:05 AM | Comments (1)
June 26, 2008
Yay! We're saved!
Posted by LindaSoG at 08:41 PM | Comments (2)
June 23, 2008
Surprise Surprise!
You'll be glad to know that the ceasefire between Israel and the palestinians is going well:
A mortar fired by Palestinian gunmen in Gaza Wednesday night landed in Israel's western Negev region.
The shell landed in an open area in close proximity to a community, but no injuries or damage were reported.
The incident was the first breach of the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and armed Palestinian groups in the Strip, which went into effect Thursday morning.
Kinda reminds me of what happened after the 2005 "ceasefire" or "truce" or "hudna" or whatever you want to call it, you know, the one that was predicated on the expulsion of Jews from Gaza:
Feb 25, 2005 - Five people were killed and 50 wounded Friday night, when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Stage club on the Tel Aviv promenade at around 11:20 P.M., on the corner of Herbert Samuel and Yonah Hanavi streets. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
The victims: Yitzhak Buzaglo, 40, of Mishmar Hayarden; Aryeh Nagar, 37, of Kfar Sava; Yael Orbach, 28, of Rehovot; Ronen Reuvenov, 30, of Tel Aviv. Odelia Hubara, 26, of Jerusalem, died of her wounds on February 28.May 2, 2005 - St.-Sgt. Dan Talasnikov, 21, of Nir Galim was killed and another soldier lightly wounded in an exchange of fire during an operation to arrest wanted terrorists from the Islamic Jihad in the village of Saida, north of Tulkarem. One of the terrorists, responsible for the February 25 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, was killed. The second terrorist was apprehended.
Mar 7, 2005 - Two Israelis are wounded by a Palestinian sniper in Hebron.
Jun 7, 2005 - Three workers were killed and five wounded when a Qassam rocket hit a packing shed in Ganei Tal, in the Gaza Strip, penetrating the building's roof and exploding indoors. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Jun 19, 2005 - IDF NCO Sgt.-Maj. Avi Karouchi, 25, of Beersheba was killed and two soldiers were wounded in a coordinated Palestinian attack in which RPG missiles and gunfire were fired at an IDF engineering force conducting construction work on the Philadelphi route along the Israeli-Egyptian border. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Jun 20, 2005 - Yevgeny Reider, 28 of Hermesh was killed and a 16-year old teenager was wounded in a terrorist shooting attack in the village of Baka A-Sharkiya in the northern West Bank. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Jun 24, 2005 - Avihai Levy, 17, of Beit Hagai was killed in a drive-by terrorist shooting at a hitchhiking stop about 200 meters from the entrance to Beit Hagai, south of Hebron. Aviad Mansour, 16, of Otniel, fatally wounded in the attack, died on June 26. Three others were wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Jun 29, 2005 - Hezbollah attacks an Israeli position at Mt. Dov from across the Lebanese border, killing one and injuring three.
Jul 12, 2005 - Rachel Ben Abu, 16, of Tel Aviv; Nofar Horowitz, 16, of Tel Aviv; and Julia Voloshin, 31, of Netanya were killed and about 90 people were wounded when a suicide bomber detonated himself outside Hasharon Mall in Netanya. Anya Lifshitz, 50, of Netanya, who was mortally wounded, succumbed to her wounds on July 13. Cpl. Moshe Maor Jan, 21, of Netanya died of his wounds on July 14. The bomber was identified as Ahmed Abu Khalil, 18, from the West Bank village of Atil. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Jul 14, 2005 - Dana Gelkovitch, 22, of Kibbutz Bror Hayil, was killed by a Qassam rocket fired at Netiv Ha'asara in the northern Gaza Strip. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah all claimed responsibility for the attack.
And then... Israel emptied Gaza for peace, the truce was still in effect and all we got was more dead Jews:
Jul 23, 2005 - Dov, 58, and Rachel Kol, 53, of Jerusalem were killed shortly after midnight on Saturday night near the Kissufim crossing in the southern Gaza Strip while returning home from visiting family in Gush Katif. Three others were wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Aug 3, 2005 - Palestinian terrorists fire a rocket at a group of Israeli demonstrators in Sderot. The missile hits their own group instead, killing a 3-year-old boy and injuring nine others, including five children.
Aug 24, 2005 - Shmuel Mett, 21, of Britain, a Mir Yeshiva student, was returning from the Western Wall to the yeshiva in Jerusalem’s Beit Yisrael neighborhood when he was fatally stabbed near Jaffa Gate in the Old City. Two other students were wounded.
Aug 28, 2005 - A Fatah terrorist detonated a suicide bomb in Beersheba, eight Israelis are hospitalized, including two guards that were seriously wounded.
Sept 21, 2005 - Sasson Nuriel, 55, of Jerusalem was kidnapped and slain by Palestinian terrorists. His body was found on Sept 26 in a garbage dump in the industrial zone of Bitunya, west of Ramallah. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
Oct 16, 2005 - Matat (Rosenfeld) Adler, 21, and her cousin, Kineret Mandel, 23, both of Carmel, and Oz Ben-Meir, 15, of Maon were killed and three were wounded when Palestinians opened fire at the Gush Etzion junction south of Jerusalem. Another teenager was shot and seriously wounded near Eli, in Samaria. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for both attacks.
Oct 26, 2005 - Six people were killed and 55 wounded, six seriously, in a suicide bombing at the Hadera open-air market. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack. The victims: Michael Kaufman, 68, of Hadera; Pirhiya Machlouf, 53, of Hadera; Sabiha Nissim, 66, of Moshav Ahituv; Jamil Qa'adan, 48, of Baka al-Gharbiya; and Ya'acov Rahmani, 68, of Hadera. A sixth victim, Genia Poleis, 66, of Hadera, died of her wounds 11 days later, on November 5.
Nov 2, 2005 - St.-Sgt. Yonatan Evron, 20, of Rishon Lezion, was mortally wounded in a gun battle with terrorists near Jenin. He died en route to hospital.
Nov 21, 2005 - Eleven Israeli soldiers and one civilian are injured by a Hezbollah attack in Metulla, Northern Israel..
Dec 5, 2005 - Five people were killed and over 50 wounded in a suicide bombing at the entrance to the Sharon shopping mall in Netanya. The terrorist detonated the bomb when he was stopped by security guards, one of whom was killed. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack. The victims: Haim Amram, 26, of Netanya, a security guard at the mall; Alexandra Garmitzky, 65, of Netanya; Daniel Golani, 45, of Nahariya; Elia Rosen, 38, of Bat Hefer; and Keinan Tsuami, 20, of Petah Tikva.
Dec 8, 2005 - Sgt. Nir Kahane, 20, of Kiryat Tivon, was stabbed to death at the Kalandiya checkpoint, south of Ramallah. The assailant was apprehended. The Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Dec 16, 2005 - Yosef (Yossi) Shok, 35, of Beit Hagai was killed in a shooting attack while driving home in the southern Hebron hills. Two passengers were wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed joint responsibility for the attack.
Dec 29, 2005 - Lt. Ori Binamo, 21, of Nesher was killed when a terrorist en route to carry out an attack in Israel detonated himself at roadblock set up near Tulkarm following an intelligence tip. Two Palestinians were also killed, one the taxi driver who was carrying the bomber. Three soldiers and seven Palestinians were wounded.
The ceasefire in 2006 wasn't much better for Israeli citizens, in the seven months following the Gaza Expulsion, the palestinians fired 800 rockets into Israel, In January of 2006, Hezbollah joined in, paying palestinians to fire Kassam rockets into Israel from Gaza.
"Palestinian terrorists get thousands of dollars per attack. Sometimes they are paid before the attack and sometimes they submit a bill to Lebanon afterward and the money gets transferred a short while later."
Peretz told the cabinet on Sunday that there have been cases over the last month where the IDF spotted terrorists preparing to fire rockets, but - because of the cease-fire - did not act.
I have to wonder at Ehud Olmert, why is he so willing to bloody his hands, to allow Israelis to be slaughtered by these animals?
Back in 2006, Olmert argued that the cease-fire had strategic value, and that Israel's policy of restraint had earned it "a lot of understanding and appreciation" around the world that would provide "leeway" in the future.
Leeway for what? Leeway for the arabs to kill more Jews? Does that mean the rest of the world appeciates that Olmert forces the IDF to stand aside while rockets land on Jews?
It would appear so.
Back then Olmert argued that "a strong military response would only unite Hamas and Fatah" and I'm sure he'll make the same tired argument again this time, as if Hamas and Fatah were not already united in their hatred of Jews.
The proper response is to bomb the hell out of Hamas and Fatah each and every time they try to kill Jews.
Any ceasefire has always meant the same thing, we cease, and they fire. This ceasefire will be no different.
Once upon a time, to be the Prime Minister of Israel meant that you defended Israel, and protected her people. Olmert has failed over and over again, he has done nothing but give way to arab demands and arab terror, and emboldened Israel's enemies.
There can be no negotiations with these arabs, because, when you negotiate with evil, evil wins.
and meanwhile, Gilad Shalit is still in the hands of the terrorists. Tomorrow it will be two years.
Posted by LindaSoG at 07:58 PM | Comments (1)
June 22, 2008
Fearmongering Florida style
Are deadly lionfish invading South Florida's waters?
Top scientists are warning about an impending invasion of a poisonous fish into South Florida's waters.
Scientists don't use the word "invasion" lightly, but that's exactly what they are predicting of the exotic-looking lionfish.
The poisonous tips on the lionfish's fins could present a danger to people who swim, dive or work in South Florida waters.
The lionfish's sting is so serious it can send victims to the hospital and even kill them.
"There is no anti-venom for this," said Lad Akins, executive director of Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF).
Experts are so concerned about the impending invasion of lionfish they are desperately trying to warn the public.
Scientists and volunteers are feverishly trying to fight the invasion of lionfish.
To do this, they are studying -- and killing -- the lionfish, now found in both deep and shallow water.
OMG! We're all gonna die! or... not.
Aquarium manager Anthony Bartolome said he has been stung five times by lionfish.
"It pretty much burns like fire," Bartolome said.
The pain from a lionfish sting lasts for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Sure, a lionfish sting can kill someone, but so can a Portuguese man-of-war. Most people just hurt for a while, and it appears that the hurt from a lionfish wears off sooner than the hurt from a man-of-war. But what the heck, let's use the word "deadly" even though you're more than likely to just hurt for a bit. That's MSM fear mongering at its best, the use of the word deadly in the headline is just plain irresponsible reporting, calculated to provoke panic and hysteria.
So? Maybe we'll just eat...
They taste like chicken? Why does everything "exotic" taste like chicken?
Posted by LindaSoG at 03:17 PM | Comments (3)
Epic Fail!
Ohfercryinoutloud!
Hey dumbass... you missed! But what the heck, set it to music, even slow it down so we can see how inept you really are, and load it up on the internet so we can laugh at you.
That's islam for ya! Hide in a corner, attack from behind, fail miserably, run away and then brag about it later.
Posted by LindaSoG at 09:54 AM | Comments (2)
June 20, 2008
The Pelosi Premium
Oh well.
Posted by LindaSoG at 06:39 AM | Comments (1)
June 19, 2008
I loved him then
and I love him now!
Parody, yes, but a good one and I'm happy to have a reason to post it.
Okay, back to the article. I was somewhat struck by this:
Last January McCain said that the president was “ very badly served by both the vice president and, most of all, the secretary of defense.”
“John said some nasty things about me the other day, and then next time he saw me, ran over to me and apologized,” Cheney said in an ABC News interview in February. “Maybe he’ll apologize to Rumsfeld.”
Aw. Ran over and apologized, did he? Nothing says hypocrite and panderer quite like an apology made in private for an attack made in public. Maybe McCain will apologize to Rumsfield, or... maybe he already has. In private.
Some of McCain’s colleagues in the Senate said they believe Rumsfeld will eventually support the GOP candidate. “He will be for him in due time,” Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said. ... Rumsfeld’s vote will be for McCain, Thune surmised, because “he cares about the country’s national security.”
Yeah sure, McCain really really cares about the country's national security, you can tell by his plan to close GITMO because after all, closing GITMO and bringing terrorists here into the United States prison system will do so much for the country's national security. Sure, why not give these hardened and experienced terrorists a captive audience made up of angry, violent, hate-filled American citizens and the opportunity to recruit and train and initiate them into Jihad. It will only make us safer, right?
If Obama was advocating this plan you'd say he was pro-terrorist, and I would agree with you. So...
Uh oh. There appears to be quite a few similarities between the two.
And... while we are on the subject, even though we have those hardened and experienced terrorists in custody, if John McCain is in charge, you can be sure that we'll never know who their terrorist friends are, and where those terrorist friends are, and we'll never know what those terrorists are planning, because we won't interrogate the terrorists we catch with any amount of aggression. McCain's policy of "pretty please" won't make us safer and sooner or later, those terrorists are going to get lucky again, and kill a bunch of innocent Americans.
UPDATE:
Republican John McCain vowed today that if he's president, Osama bin Laden will be either killed in combat or executed.
That little gem is posted on John's website. Sure, Johnny boy knows how to get him, all ya gotta do is just say "pretty please" to the next terrorist we catch and he'll tell us where to find bin Laden! Silly old George Bush just wasn't asking nice.
Gah! I despise that man more every day.
Posted by LindaSoG at 07:30 AM | Comments (4)
June 17, 2008
Presented without commentary
Because anything I said would only get me in trouble:
and... no, I don't know where you can buy one. It ain't on the Republican Market website.
UPDATE No. 1: The White House button has led the Texas GOP to donate the $1,500 Alcox paid for two booth spaces to Midwest flood relief.
UPDATE No. 2: Party spokesman Hans Klingler said today: “This vendor need not apply to another Texas GOP state convention. The proceeds from their booth space will be donated to charity. We will not tolerate nor profit from bigotry.”
sigh.
Posted by LindaSoG at 07:32 PM | Comments (9)
June 15, 2008
On Father's Day
More than anything, I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to the Marine you see there, down on one knee...
He served in Korea, as Infantry, in the Military Police and he was a proud member of the Marines' Drum and Bugle Corps.
And he just happens to be my Dad.
I want to wish my Dad a Happy Father's Day, but I can't. I can't because we are estranged. We are estranged because of his participation in the cult of Jews for Jesus, because of the teachings of that cult, which require that he convert everyone in his life to a Jew for Jesus, including me.
Over the years, as my Father sought solace in religion for deeds in his past, I tried to be a supportive and understanding daughter, through the "voodoo years" when he chanted and wore beads and sacrificed chickens, through the Jesus Fellowship where they talked in tongues and reached out to heal people over the computer (place your hands on the screen and you shall be healed) and various other religions of the month.
I closed my eyes when the bible passages came through the mail, I sighed when every conversation began with, and ended with, Jesus loves you. When, a few months after I completed the paperwork for his divorce from his third wife, I began my own divorce, I just shook my head when he told me I had better go to church, get down on my knees and beg Jesus to save my marriage. I closed my eyes, shook my head and sighed when he performed an exorcism on me while I was in Neuro-ICU recovering from brain surgery. That was a hard thing to excuse, but excuse it I did, because I love my Father, and I was determined to have him in my life.
Not too very long after that, he told me... "It breaks my heart that you will be in hell while I am in heaven" and I reeled away from that, we didn't talk for several years. I received a bible passage or two in the mail over time, but that was the extent of our contact. I was reduced to hearing about my Father through from my sister, he sold his house here and moved up north. He was working, he was well. It seems that, for some reason unknowable, he was more aggressive with me, and easier on the Jesus stuff with my siblings.
I don't have this problem with other Christians in my life, they accept me in their lives and their hearts for who and what I am, they accept that I am a Jew, and I can't recall ever meeting another C